Rotary fluid-pressure motor.



F. M. FLOYD.

ROTARY FLUID PRESSURE MOTOR. APPLICATION FILED B3123, 191a.-

Patented Jan. 12,1915.

OM00 EM. F'zo I 2 gnlznws sqzlnm 1.

P. M. FLOYD. ROTARY FLUID PRESSURE MOTOR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23,1913.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

awwmltw flaw/71 d,

EN pron.

' FRANCIS M; FLOYD, F ELKVILLE, ILLINOIS.

ROTARY FLUIJ -IE'RESSURE MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnted an, 12, 1915,

Application filed September 23, 1913. Serial No. 791,386.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. FLOYD, citizen of the United States,residing at Elkville, in the county of Jackson and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in RotaryFluid-Pressure Motors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary fluid pressure motors and moreparticularly to that type in which the fluid under pressure is in thenature of the products of combustion of a gaseous explosive mixture.

As is well known, in the ordinary type of rotary explosive enginesthepistons directly receive the lmpact of the mixture as it is exploded,but in a motor so constructed there is always considerable vibration,which it is the primary object of the present invention to obviate. I

In the motor embodying the present in- .vention the impact of theexploded charge is not received directlyby the piston but is absorbedand the products of combustion subsequently directed with great velocityresult the 'chargeis first exploded in the combustion chamber which atthe time of the explosion of the charge is out of communication with thepiston chamber and after the force of the explosion has been absorbed inthe combustion chamber the exploded chargeor the products of combustionare conducted to the-piston chamber and directed against the piston headtherein.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsectional view through the motor embo dying the present invention. Fig.is a view in front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionalview on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings the base of the motor is indicated by the numeral 1 andsupportsthe sections of the casing which constitutes the body of themotor and forms the piston chamber as will 7 be presently exp ained.These casing sections are of annular form and are indicated each by thenumeral 2,

they being provided with peripheral flanges 3 bolted together as at 4.

The motor shaftis indicated by the numeral 5 and keyed or otherwisefixed thereon is the rotor 6 of the motor, which rotor carries thepiston head as will be presently explained.

The casing sections 2 are provided axially each with stuffing box 7fitting the motor shaft 5 and the outer portions of the sections are incross section substantially semi-circular as indicated at 8 so'that whenthe sec tions are assembled there will be provided an annular pistonchamber 9. In order to prevent leakage of the fluid from this chamber,annular packing rings 10 are seated in grooves 11- formed in thecontacting sides of the casi'iig-sections and rotor-6 imme diatelyinwardly of vthe portions 8 of the casing sections. The support for thepiston head is preferably in the nature of a block 12 which is fittedinto a recess 13 formed in the periphery of the rotor 6 and held inplace by means of-a transverse pin la in the manner shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings. This block projectsbeyond the periphery of the rotor 6 anddisposed against the block is the piston head which is indicated by thenumeral 15, this head being of a diameter to fit snugly within thepiston chamber 9 and is secured in place against the face of the blockby means of a bolt16 or any other suitable fastening element. It will beobserved by reference to Fig. 1 that the working face of the piston head15 is substantially radial to the axis-of the rotor and in order thatthefull force of the driving fluid may be received by the piston there issecured to this said working face a supplemental head 17 having aworking face 18 which is angularly disposed with respect to the. workingface of the head 15 and which is approximately chamber includes a base20 which is secured 1 i impact head 25 fitting slidably within thecylinder at one end thereof. This impact head, as will be presentlyexplained, consti- 24 beween the head 27 and the partition 22' 1s aspring 28 which serves to cushion the movement of the head in adirection away fn'om, the partition 22 or more specifically speaking,towardthe closed or fixed end or head 29 of the cylinder.= At this endthe cylinder is provided with a port 30 which registers with the port19, and mounted foroscillatory movement in a bore 31 intersecting theport 30, is a valve 32, the stem 33'of which. extends at one endexteriorly of the Casing or cylinder. This valve is to be oscillated ina manner to be presently explained so as to open and close the port 30to control the admission of the motor fluid to the piston chamber 9. Thecylinder'21 at its outer end is open and in its open end'is arranged avalve seat 34 having openings 35 establishing communicationbetween theinterior of the cylinder at this end thereof and the atmosphere. Theseopenings are. normally closed by a check valve 36 yieldably held to itsseat by means of a spring 37. It may be stated at this point that whenthe valve is resting against its seat the cylinder at its outer end willbe closed to the-atmosphere and it will, therefore, be apparent that airconfined within this end of the cylinder will serve to cushion themovement of the piston head 27 upon movement of the impact head 25 t0-wardthe partition 22. The base 20 for the cylinder 21 is formed with a.passage 38 in communication with which is a pipe 39 leading from an airtank 40. A passage 41 is also formed in the base and is in communicationwith a liquid fuel supply pipe 42. A three-way valve 43 ismounted foroscillatory movement in the base and has branches 45 and 46 adapted tobe brought mto registrationwith the passages 38 and 41 respectively. Theother branch 47 of this valve is designed to register with one end of apassage 48 which communicates w th the interior of the combustionchamber through the head 29 of the cylinder. HA.

throttlevalve 49 is mounted in the base20 and may be rotated to controlthe passage of the explosive mixture through the passage 48- to thecombustion chamber. One end of the stem of this valve extends exteriorlyof the base as indicated at 50 and is provided with a hand lever 51' bymeans there is provided an air pump which in-- eludes-a cylinder 52mounted upon one side of the basei2O directly above the motor shaft Apistonv53 works within the cyllinder 52- and the rod of this piston,indicated at 54, is connected, to the strap 55 of an eccentric 56 fixedupon the motor shaft, it bein understood that upon rotation of the saishaft reciprocatory .motion will be imparted to the piston. Air isadmitted to the closed end of the'cylinder by a check valve 57 and isled from the cylinder by way of a pipe 58 which communicates with thetank 40 and in which is interposed a suitable check valve '59. 'At thispoint it will be understood that as the piston is reciprocated air willbe forced through the pipe 58' into the storage tank 40. As a means foroperating the valve 43 the strap 55 of the eccentric is provided witha-laterally projecting pin 60, to which is connected the lower end of arod 61 fitted-at its up er end to an arm 62 fixed upon the stem of thesaid valve 43, this stem bei'ng indicated by the numeral 63. It will nowbe apparent that -as the motor shaft is rotated oscillatory movementwill be imparted'to the arm 62 thereby rocking the valve 43 so as tosuccessively open and close the passages 38, 41 and 48, simultaneously.v

As a means for operating the valve 32 automatically the stem of thisvalve is provi ded with a tappet arm 64 cotiperatingwith which is afinger 65'mounted upon the fly wheel 66 for the motor, which fly wheelis secured upon the shaft 5, .=A spring 67 is connected to the arm 64and normally holds the same inthe path of movement of the finger 65 andin position to close the valve 32, it being understood that at eachrevolution of the shaft 5 the arm 64 will be engaged by the finger 65and the valve 32 will be rocked toopen position to establish com--munication, momentarily, between the combustion chamber and the powerchamben.

Fitted in the Wall'of the cylinder 21 isa spark plug 68 of any ordinarytype.-

. In order that lubrication may be supplied to the impact head 25 andpiston head 27 the wall of the cylinder is formed with an oil passage 69having branches 70 which communicate with the interior of thegcylin der21 at opposite sides of the partition 22 therein, a lubr'cator '71having its stem fitted in the said )assage 69. By reference to Fig. 1will be observed that the branches 70 of the passage 69 are incommunication with each-other and consequently they form a bypass forthe air within the cylinder between the-heads 25 and 27 and,theremam-409 by prevent'compression of the air between these heads andthe partition 22 as the heads reciprocate.

The operation of the motor is as follows:

, As the parts are illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings the valve 32has been opened by the engagement of the finger 65 with the tappet arm64 and the fluid in the combustion chamber has been allowed to enter thepiston chamber 9 and forcibly strike the piston head 15. As the finger65 rides out 'of engagement with the tappet arm 64 the spring 67 willact upon this arm to quickly close the valve 32 and the parts are soadjusted that immediately following the 0105- ing of this valve thevalve .43 will be opened allowing air under pressure from t@ tank 40 toflow through the passage 38, thereby sucking into the passage 48 asuitable volume of the explosive fluid entering through the passage 41.As thismixture leaves theend of the passage 48 the liquid fuel will beatomized and the required volume of gaseous explosive mixture havingbeen supplied tothe combustion chamber the valve 43 automatically closesand the mixture is .fired. The impact due to the explosion of the chargewithin the combustion chamber will act directly against the impact head25 and this head'will be momentarily forced in the direction of thepartition 22 against the tension. of the spring 26. The spring 26, afterthe force of the impact has been expended or absorbed, will then beginto act to return the impact head to its normal position or to theposition shown in Fig. 1 and at the same time the finger 65 will againengage with the tappet arm 64, thereby opening the valve 32 and allowingthe products of combustion, which are, as will be readily under stood,under great pressure, to enter the piston chamber at a high velocityandimpinge against the piston of the rotor therein with suflicient forceto drive the rotor around the power piston chamber. As the piston passesthe exhaust port 72 which is provided in one wall of the piston chamber,the fluid is allowed to exhaust and the piston again assumes a positionin advance of the inlet port 19. The operation heretofore described hasbeen in the meantime repeated and as the piston assumes about theposition shown in Fig. 1 the valve 32 will pact head 25 is forced towardthe partiagain be opened to admit a fresh charge of fluid. It will beapparent that .asthe 1mtion 22 the air contained in the cylinder 21between the valve seat 34 and the piston head 27, will be compressed andwill there:

by serve to cushion such movement of the parts, the return movement ofthe parts being cushioned by the spring 28.

If desired, the wall of the cylinder 21 may ing be provided with asuitable water jacket indicated by the numeral 7 3.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be seen that inthe operation of the motor the impact of the explosion is not borne bythe piston 15 but by the yieldable impact head 25 of the combustionchamber and consequently there will be practically no vibration of themotor when running.

Having claim is:

1. In a motor of the class described, the combination witlra piston .andits chamber, of acombustion chamber disposed approximately tangential tothe piston chamber, a cushioning head within the, combustion chainherand constituting one-wall of the chamber, means for admitting anexplosive charge to the combustion chamber, means for exploding thecharge, portsv forming communication without change of direction betweenone end of the combustion chamber and the piston chamber, andmeansoperating 'to close communication between the chambers at the period ofexplosion of the described myinvention, what I said chambers subsequentto such period.

' charge and to open comirrunication between 2'. In a motor of the classdescribed, the

combination with a piston and'its chamber,

' of a combustion chamber'arranged approximately tangent-ialto thecombustion '.chamber, a' spring-pressed impact head within thecombustion chamber constituting one wall thereof, means for admitting anexplosive charge to the combustion chamber, means for exploding thecharge, and means operatcombination with a piston and its chamber,

of a combustion chamber communicating directly with the piston chamber,an impact head slidably mounted in said combustion chamber, av springbearing against said head and resisting its sliding movement inonedirection, means for admitting an explosive charge to the combustionchamber, means for exploding the charge, and means operatto closecommunication between the chambers at the period of explosion of thecharge and to open communication between said chambers subsequent to.such period, whereby the expansion ofthe spring will force the explodedcharge directly against the piston. i

4. In a motor of the class described, the combination with a piston andits chamber, of adjacent combustion and air "chambers, an. impact headslidably mounted in the combustion chamber, a piston head slidablymounted in the air chamber. a connection between the heads, Springsbearing against noncorresponding sides of the'heads, means for admittingan explosive charge to the combustion chamber, means for exploding thecharge, and means operating to close communication between thecombustion and piston chambers at the period of explosion of the chargeand to open communication between said chambers subsequent to suchperiod.

5. In a motor of the class described, the combination with a piston andits chamber, of a combustion chamber, an air compression chamber,apartition dividing the chambers, an impact head-mounted -for slidingmovement in the combustion chamber, a piston head mounted for slidingmovement in the air compression chamber, a connection between the heads,a spring bearing against each side of the partition and against therespective heads, means for admitting an explosive charge to thecombustion chamber,

means for exploding the charge, and means operating to closecommunication between the combustion and piston chambers at the periodof explosion of the charge and to open communication between saidchambers subsequent to such period.

6. In a motor of the class described, the combination with a piston andits chamber, of-a combustion chamber arranged approximately tangentialto the piston chamber and having direct communication therewith, a headmounted within thev chamber and adapted to yield at each explosionwithin the chamber, means tending to return the head to initialposition, means for cushioning the head in each direction of its travel,means for admitting an explosive charge to the chamber, means forexploding the charge, and meansoperatingto close communication betweenthe chambers at the period of explosion of the charge and to opencommunication between said chambers subsequent to such-period.

' 7, In a motor'of the class described, a

motor shaft, a piston chamber, a piston carriedby the shaft'for rota iontherewith and working in said 'eham er, a combustion chamber, a fuel.ihlet, an' air inlet, said fuel inlet and air inlet having a commoncommunication with the combustion chamber,.

a pump actuated by said shaft for supplying air through the air inlet tomingle with the fuel and form the explosive charge entering thecombustion chamber, means for exploding the charge, and means operatingto close communication between the cham- 'ton is in advance thereof, anda combustion chamber communicating with the piston chamber through saidinlet port.

9. The combination of a working chamber, a piston therein, a motor shaftactuated by said piston, a combustion chamber, a fuel supply port, anair supply port, a single port forming a communication between thecombustion chamber and the fuel supply and air supply'ports, a valvecommon to all said ports, operative connections between the motor shaftand said valve to-control -admission to the combustion chamber, meansfor igniting a charge in the combustion chamber, and means forestablishing communication between the combustion chamber and theworking chamber.

10. The combination of a working chamber, a combustion chamber in,connection therewith, an air chamber, pistons in the combustionchamberand the air chamber, a connection between said pistons, means forcushioning the travel of the pistons in both directions, and a by-passbetween the air chamber and the combustion chamber.

I H. BRADLEY, R. B. AKEN.

' In testimony whereofI afiix my signa-

